In a stunning setback for Elon Musk’s space ambitions, SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket erupted in flames and disintegrated mid-air during a high-stakes test flight, plunging into the Indian Ocean. The jaw-dropping moment unfolded after the rocket experienced a catastrophic failure while reentering Earth’s atmosphere.
The 403-foot rocket had lifted off successfully from SpaceX’s Starbase in South Texas and even deployed test Starlink satellites. But just when everything seemed on track, the upper stage began leaking fuel, lost stability, and spiraled out of control.
Mission control lost contact shortly after the spacecraft began its descent. Within minutes, the Starship was gone—shattered over the ocean in a fiery finale.
This marks another major hurdle for SpaceX, which aims to use Starship for future Moon and Mars missions. While the company has not released an official statement yet, experts say the data from this failed flight will be crucial in redesigning and improving the next version.
Despite the setback, SpaceX remains committed to rewriting the future of space travel—one explosive test at a time.
